Egg-testing compartment-box.



PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905.

J. R. COLE. EGG TESTING GOMPARTMENT BOX.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1903.

W ITN ESSES INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

JONAH ROGERS COLE, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO AUGUST MOEBUS, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

EGG-TESTING COM PARTlVlENT-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoNAn ROGERS COLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented an Improved is at the same time easily and cheaply manufactured and easily set up by hand or machine.

I am aware that patents have been granted upon boxes purporting to solve a number of these problems; but I know of no box other than that herein described, wherein various absolutely essential conditions have been successf ull y combined and provided for. A practicable box of this type must hold a dozen eggs, be of such a size that the same number of eggs in their separate dozen boxes can be packed in the standard egg-shipping case, the partitions must be unaffected by the shocks undergone during transportation, it must be so rigid that it will not break down or come apart when handled, no part should break while being set up, one or more eggs should be easily removable without handling or disturbing the remainder, it must be collapsible, candling the eggs while in the box should be possible, it must be cheaply manufactured, easily set up by hand or machine, must be simple, and there should be very little wastage in cutting out.

In the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings it will be seen that I have solved all of the abovementioned problems and successfully combined them in a simple and practical manner.

Reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specilication, upon which like characters of reference indicate like parts wherever they occur.

Of the several views and diagrams shown, Figure l is a flat view of the complete blank from which the entire box is formed. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic section of the box after forming, showing the disposition of the several portions of the complete blank. Fig. 3 is a top view of a portion of the box, showing the poles in the bottom of the same made for the purpose described. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of half of the box from which a portion of the actual bottom of the sameis shown removed, so that the position, use, and form of the lengthwise upwardly-extending locking-flap may be more readily understood. The location of the large holes and ventilation-recesses at the ends in the part of the actual bottom (not shown in the figure) are shown, however, by broken lines. In Figs. 3 and 4: only so much of the entire box is shown as is necessary to fully show the various points in the construction, &c., of the same,as thedraw ings of the entire box in either view would be an unnecessary repetition of the same features.

I will now describe in detail the various features of my invention.

In Fig. 1 the several solid lines show where the blank is cut entirely through and the dashlines show where the blank is merely scored, so that the material may be easily bent along these lines. I have shown by dotted lines tending above and below the blahicpropei that the same may be readily cut continuously from a roll of box-forming material; but it is obvious that it may also be cut from the sheet with a slightly greater waste of material, for which reason I prefer to cut it from the roll.

The top of the box when formed is shown at D, in which at A A and A are shown the several solid integral downwardly-turnable flaps, which form the transverse partitions between the several compartments when the box is formed. The making of these flaps solid (that is, without recesses or openings cut in them) and the manner in which I lock them in position is a very important feature of my invention.

In the drawings the upper flap between the points indicated by the letters B B is cut away, thus decreasing the length of the hinge formed by the score-mark, by reason of which construction I make it possible to turn down the flap without tearing the same entirely off at the points markedCC, which would be and is the case with all boxes having a flap near the ends of the box heretofore constructed.

IOK

This also is an important feature of my invention.

The lower flap is shown projecting beyond the straight edge of the entire blank, which, however, does not result in a waste of material, as the portion projecting from the blank is an exact facsimile in form of that portion cut from the upper side of the blank and the upper flap for the purpose above mentioned. As may readily be understood, if the blanks are cut from a roll of material there is no wastage at this point.

At E and E is shown the bottom of the box when formed, in which are cut the several openings marked L L, for the purpose presently to be explained, these openings being so placed that they are separately central in each of the several compartments of the finished box.

'AtF F are shown the sides of the box when formed, in one of which, at M M, slits may be cut for the reception of the tongues N N in the overlap portion or that part of the blank marked K, which part, with the part marked J, forms a second attached bottom to the box. This part J K, however, may be used or not, as desired, for the box is complete without it and its use would be optional, depending entirely upon the demands of the trade. IVhen it is not deemed advisable to use this additional attached bottom, I so cut the entire blank that it extends toward the left side of the drawings only as far as the line marked X tened to same, thus forming a tube D, F F, and E, Fig. 2, the holes L L in the part G coinciding with the holes in that half of the bottom marked E if the box is made with the additional attached bottom.

At H is shown the central lengthwise and upwardly-extending locking-flap, also shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4:. In this locking-flap are cut the several slits or slots shown, extending from the outside edge of the entire blank to a point sufficiently distant from the outer edge to allow the solid flaps A A to rest in them when the box is formed, as shown also in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, these slits or slots preferably ending in small round casement-openings H H, as shown, and the material between the several slits or slots being slightly rounded ofi at the outside corners, as shown.

It may now be reiterated that the design, construction, and arrangement of the lockingflap, (shown at H,) the solid integral downwardly-turnable flaps, (shown at A A,) and the functions or ends which they serve by combination in the manner shown and described is one of the most valuable features of my invention, by lwhich I attain the rigidity and permanency of the finished box.

I am aware that compartment-boxes are made with downward-turning flaps locked by upward-turning flaps; but the construction of these parts of my improved box is so radically diflerent from those mentioned that the merits and construction of the two types are not comparable.

In previously-patented boxes of a similar character provision is made for the locking of tongues (formed in a centrally-disposed recess or notch cut in the downward-turning flaps) into openings out in the upward-turning flaps or flaps in a part corresponding to that portion of the blank shown in Fig. 1 between the row of easement-openings shown at H H and the score-mark between the two portions of the blank marked G and H. Dependence is therefore made upon the resistance of these projecting tongues (resting and being held in the slots out to receive them as noted) to pressure, shock, and moisture, which forces and condition they are entirely unable to withstand, resulting in the more or less complete collapse of all boxes so constructed when subjected to the conditions mentioned, which are all encountered when the filled boxes are undergoing shipment or are in cold storage. This grave defect is entirely overcome in my improved box, and, in addition, by the new and novel construction used by me the complete box is rendered very rigid and stable.

Fig. 2 is drawn mainly for the purpose of showing the relative position of the flaps A A and the looking-flap H and the manner in which the flap H is turned up after the flaps A A are turned down, by which operation each of the several flaps A A. is immovably held in one of the slits or slots in the flap H. The holes L L in the bottom of the box serve the double purpose of allowing of the candling or testing of the eggs while contained in the box and also making it easily possible to turn the flap H up after the flaps A A are turned down, which is not practically possible if the box has a solid bottom. When this initial operation in forming the box is accomplished, the fingers of the hand may be inserted through the holes L L in the bottom (shown by broken lines in Fig. 4) and the locking-flap H easily forced into position. It is obvious that both of these operations may be accomplished by the use of machinery, if advisable.

Figs. 3 and 4 have been sufficiently explained above, and these views, in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, clearly show the entire principle and construction of the complete box proper, and therefore enable one who is skilled in the art to readily construct and form the improved egg-testing compartment-box thereby shown and herein clearly described.

In this specification I have used the words out and score in the ordinary acceptation of these terms in the boxmaking trade. The words solid flaps also wherever used refer to the downwardly-turnable transverse partition flaps marked A A in Fig. 1 and shown also and so marked in the several other views of the drawings, these flaps being called solid to differentiate them from all such partition-flaps which have openings, recesses, or slits of any kind formed in their lower or free edges. I have also used the words eggtesting compartment-box as being the descriptive combination of words which most clearly express the principle upon which the use of the new box is based. I do not wish, however, to be understood to confine myself to the construction shown for the eg -testing purpose only, as it is very evident that all or any of the new principles used in designing and forming the box may be advantageously used in the making of compartment-boxes not having the feature allowing of the candling of eggs and for the carrying of other commodities, such as fruit, &c.

I am aware that the principle of cutting a projecting part of one blank from a recessed part of another is very old, and I do not wish to be understood to claim this principle broadly; but I do claim the particular use of the principle employed by me to weaken the end hinge of the box or like boxes, thereby avoiding the breaking or tearing of same in forming or setting up the box. As the positive locking in position of partition-flaps similar to A A in the drawings is also entirely new, I therefore intend to cover by my claims such positive locking of partition-flaps by an opposed locking and partition flap, as clearly' claimed be low. I therefore intend to cover in the claims which follow any and all boxes which might be made and used having either singly or in combination the several novel and original features of construction and design shown, described above, and hereinafter specifically claimed.

Having therefore clearly described and shown the principles and manner of construction of my invention, what I claim as new and novel, and desire to secure to myself by Letters Patent, is

1. In a compartment-box of the class described, the combination of a series of inwardly-turned partition-flaps held at their free edges by the inwardly-turned slotted lockingfiap, the inwardly-turned locking-flap holding the several free edges of the partition-flaps in slits or slots cut therein substantially as described, the side of the box from which the said locking-flaps extend, being provided with a series of finger-holes, through which holes the turning inward and adjustment of the locking-flap is accomplished.

2. In a compartment-box formed from a single body-blank having a portion of the blank cut or formed into a series of flaps forming partitions therein when the box is set up, the combination of the end flaps A and A in the form shown and described; one end flap being cut away along the greater part of the hinge side of the flap for the purpose described, and the end flap at the opposite extremity of the series of flaps being in part out from the firstmentioned end flap as described and shown.

3. In a compartment-box the construction shown, embodying a series of inwardly-turnable partition-flaps,an opposed inwardly-turnable slotted locking-flap, the several slots in said locking-flap being adapted to hold the sevveral free edges of the partition-flaps, the side of the box from which the locking-flap extends beingprovided with a series of holes or fingeropenings through which holes or finger-openings the 'turninginward and adjustment of the locking-flap is accomplished.

4. In a compartment-box the combination of the inwardly-turnable partition-flaps A A, the opposed in wardly-turnable slotted lockingfiap H, the bottom of the box provided with the series of openings or finger-holes L L, and the integral auxiliary or secondary bottom J, covering the said finger-holes as shown, all arranged upon the body-blank as shown and described and having the independent functions and uses described.

5. In a compartment-box of the class described, having a series of inwardly-turnable partition-flaps, an inwardly-turnable lockingfiap, said locking-flap holding the free edges of the partition-flaps in slots cut therein; the body proper of the box, in the bottom of which a series of finger holes or openings is cut, through which, the slotted locking-flap shown and described may be forced into position and adjusted, and a protecting or auxiliary bottom hinged to one of the outside bottom corners or edges of the box, for the purpose of protecting the articles contained in the box from breakage.

6. An egg-testingcompartmentbox,formed from a single body-blank, said blank having'a plurality of parallel score -marks extending from one edge of the blank to the opposite edge of the blank, between two of which score marks is formed a series of inwa rdly-turnable flaps; a single integral locking-flap formed on an edge of the blank and running parallel to the series of solid inwardly-tnrnable flaps as described and shown, said locking-flap having a series of slits or slots cut therein for the purpose described, the portions of the single blank which constitute the bottom of the box, when formed, being provided with a series of openings the material cut away to form such openings, being entirely severed from the blank, said openings being situated on either side of the series of solid inwardly-turnable flaps, said series of openings on either side of the solid flaps being parallel to the said series of solid flaps and the single locking-flap, two score-marks separating the series of openings from either side of the series of solid flaps, said openings being so made andplaced for the purposes described and shown.

'7. An egg-testing compartment-box formed from a single body-blank, said blank having a plurality of parallel score marks extending from one edge of the blank or end of the box when formed to the opposite edge or end, between two of which score-marks is formed a series of inwardly-turnable transverse partition-flaps extending almost to the bottom of the box when formed, a single integral locking-flap formed upon one edge of the blank, and the bottom of the box provided with a series of openings severally central in each of the compartments of the finished box, said blank having also a series of Well-defined recesses upon the two opposite sides of the blank which become the ends of the box when formed, said recesses serving as ventilation-openings.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. ROGERS. COLE. [L.- s.]

lVitnesses:

M. B. MEEHAN, G. O. TESSIER. 

